ABSTRACT
AIM:To evaluate the effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide(H2S)on the expression of NLRP3 in-flammasome in hepatocytes.METHODS:The hepatocytes L 02 and SMMC-7721 were used to establish the model of inflam-mation by stimulating with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)at different concentrations in vitro.The expression of NLRP3 inflam-masome in the hepatocytes was detected by Western blot and the cell viability was measured by MTT assay for determining appropriate concentration of LPS.The hepatocytes were divided into 4 groups:the cells in control group were incubated with normal medium for 18.5 h;the cells in LPS group were incubated with normal medium for 0.5 h followed by 100 μg/L LPS for 18 h;the cells in LPS+H2 S group and H 2 S group were incubated with 200μmol/L sodium hydrosulfide hydrate(NaHS)for 0.5 h followed by 100 μg/L LPS or normal medium for 18 h,respectively.The protein expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in the cells of every group was determined by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with control group ,the protein expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 increased significantly in LPS group(P<0.05)and had no significant change in H2S group.Compared with LPS group,the protein expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in LPS+H2S group decreased significantly(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:In hepatocytes,exogenous H2S suppresses the expression of NLRP3 inflamma-some.